ROMANIA: Beer market drops 16% in last two years

The unstable economic environment in 2010 resulted in a decrease of the beer market by 3.5% over 2009 reaching a total volume of 17 million hectoliters. According to data released by the Brewers of Romania on Tuesday, in the last two years the beer market declined by 16% compared to 2008, the year when the beer sales volume reached a maximum quota of 20.2 million hectoliters.

Beer consumption per capita in 2010 recorded a value of 78 liters, continuing the descending trend started in 2009 and proving the fact that the economic situation has affected consumers and their consumption habits.

The Members of “Brewers of Romania” Association – Bergenbier, Heineken Romania, Romaqua Group, United Romanian Breweries and Ursus Breweries – despite the difficult situation, have invested 51 million euros last year and the contribution to the state budget through various taxes (excise, VAT, personal taxes and social insurance contributions) has reached 270 million euros, up by 7 million euros compared with 2009.

“Beer is a national industry, the most recent statistics showing that 99% of beer consumption in Romania is covered by domestic production”, said Jan Derck van Karnebeek, president of the “Brewers of Romania” Association.

At this point the five companies members of the “Brewers of Romania” Association reached a total volume of 15.3 million hectoliters, with 4.4% less compared to 2009, and offer a total of over 4100 jobs in the 10 beer factories located in several cities all over the country. The beer industry generates a total number of 96 400 employees, in its factories and also in related sectors such as hospitality, retail, suppliers, and distributors.

Consumer’s preferences in terms of packaging were kept constant: PET holds a percentage of 49.3%, 31.7% the glass bottle, the can is 16% and 3% the beer on draught.

“Although the beer industry in 2010 faced a series of changes due to the economic recession, strongly affecting the level of investment and labor, and also the closure of some breweries, we want that through our sustained efforts to maintain stability and also the recovery of this sector with a mainly local production.”, said Constantin Bratu, General Manager of the ” Brewers of Romania ” Association.

New Members of “Brewers of Romania” Association

Starting this year, two new members have joined the “Brewers of Romania” Association, which opens the representativeness activities to manufacturers of malt and hops.

Thus, Soufflet Malt Romania and Association of Hops Producers from Romania will support our efforts to promote the beer culture in Romania, to educate consumers about responsible consumption of beer and to inform about the benefits of this beverage made from natural ingredients.

These two raw material producers operate their activities in Romania in nine factories and farms and mobilize a total number of 134 employees, contributing annually to the state budget with over two million euros.

„Brewers of Romania” Association was established in 2004 and represents the beer producers from Romania, both locally and internationally. The current members are five of the largest beer producers in Romania, and starting from 2011 the producers of hops and malt, the raw material required for all beer, have joined the Association.

Since January 2008, the organization is a member of the “Brewers of Europe” Association, considered the voice of the European beer industry in front of various international institutions and organizations. Founded in 1958, in Brussels, the organization has today 27 members and represents the interests of approximately 4,000 producers of the beer industry in Europe. Moreover, the Brewers of Europe Association represents and defends the interests of over 2.5 million people who owe their jobs to production and beer selling.